Sam Burns Loses His Cool, Snaps Driver in Frustration at FedEx St. Jude Championship

By: Brooks Latta | 08/18/2024

Sam Burns’ third round at the FedEx St. Jude Championship took a dramatic and unexpected turn when a moment of frustration led him to snap his driver, leaving him to finish the round without one of the most crucial clubs in his bag.

A Strong Start Before the Storm

Burns, ranked 33rd in the world, entered the third round just one stroke off the lead and seemed well-positioned to contend for the title. He had mixed results in the opening holes, with two bogeys but also four birdies, bringing him to 12-under par and within striking distance of the leader, Hideki Matsuyama. However, beneath the surface, trouble was brewing. Burns' bogeys on the 1st and 7th holes were the result of poor drives, a sign of the inconsistency that would soon come to a head.

The Breaking Point

The pivotal moment came on the par-4 ninth hole. Burns’ 335 yard tee shot veered wildly left, landing in a cluster of trees—a mistake that proved to be too much for him to handle. In a fit of anger, Burns slammed his driver into the ground. The impact was so forceful that the club snapped, sending the head and shaft flying in opposite directions.

With nine holes left to play, Burns was now forced to continue without a driver, a critical disadvantage, especially on the longer holes ahead.

PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek later clarified that a club cannot be replaced if it was broken out of anger rather than during regular play.

Struggles Without a Driver

After the driver-snap incident, Burns' day continued to unravel. He punched out of the trees and found the fairway, but his troubles persisted. His approach missed the green, and a poorly executed chip shot rolled back toward him, leading to a costly double bogey. This blunder dropped Burns to 10 under par, four strokes behind Matsuyama.

Despite this setback, Burns showed resilience by bouncing back with a birdie on the 10th hole. Yet, his struggles without a driver became evident once more when he had to rely on a 3-wood on the par-5 12th hole, a shot that failed to carry the water hazard. Though his reaction to this mishap was more subdued, it was clear that the lack of a driver was taking a toll on his game.

Finishing Strong Despite the Setback

Burns managed to steady the ship somewhat on the back nine, trading three birdies for three bogeys to finish even par with a round of 70. This performance left him tied for fourth place with Scottie Scheffler at 10 under, seven shots behind Matsuyama. Burns' round could have been much worse, but his ability to stay composed after the incident was commendable.

Looking Ahead

Despite the challenges, Burns’ performance this week has been impressive, moving him up from 29th to a projected 17th in the FedExCup standings. With Sunday’s final round still ahead, Burns remains a formidable competitor, even if his path to victory now seems steeper.

Sam Burns' moment of anger at the FedEx St. Jude Championship serves as a reminder of the emotional intensity of professional golf. Whether he can rebound fully from this setback remains to be seen, but his determination in the face of adversity is something that fans and fellow competitors will surely be watching closely.